LENT DAY 27: THE REIGN OF WICKEDNESS. (Homily for March 11, 2016. Friday of the 4th Week of Lent)


Bible Study: Wisdom 2, 1 and 12 to 22. John 7, 1 to 30.


One issue that has never ceased the baffle the minds of philosophers and even theologians for ages and would continue to be the food for thought for all thinking minds to come is the problem of evil and evil people in the world. If we say God is all-good, all-knowing and all-powerful, then why do wicked people succeed in destroying good people? Why does God sometimes allow bad people have their ways?

Think of all the wickedness we see around in the world today, the fact that innocent lives are wasted by terrorist groups, the fact that women and children are sold and used as slaves by people who ought to know better, the fact that some are becoming extremely rich at the detriment of the poor masses whose share in the commonwealth are forcefully and trickily taken away. While so many in this country are dying of hunger on a daily basis, you turn on the news and you hear of billions of dollars stacked in foreign banks by past leaders. While our roads are in such deplorable conditions taking away lives on a daily basis, huge sums of money awarded for road contracts are shared by some elite and used in sending their children to study overseas.

The question of wickedness becomes even more baffling when we consider that even those of us who are devoted Christians, who pride ourselves with enjoying the Divine protection of God as well as the angels and saints are sometimes not spared from the brunt of wickedness by the ungodly. So we are almost tempted to wonder if there is any point serving God. At the height of modern day atheism is the unresolved question of “where is God when really bad things happen to his beloved children? If he exists at all, then why does he allow his children suffer?”

Today’s readings offer us a solution. When we consider that Jesus himself, being the son of God despite his complete sinlessness and devotion suffered the most gruesome death at that time in the hands of wicked men, we are faced with some far reaching truths. If Jesus suffered from the wickedness of others, then this world is surely full of wicked people and the good ones will not last long here. If Jesus suffered despite enjoying the love of God, it means that God continues to love us even while watching us suffer and he is still there when bad things happen. If Jesus suffered, he did so for a reason that millions of people could have the opportunity of being saved and this is to say that all suffering has a meaning and a purpose. There is no such thing as senseless suffering. Something good always comes out of pain and sorrow in the long run.

Our first reading sums it up: “… For their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls.” Dear friends, there is a reward for holiness. We cannot fully understand the secret purposes of God as to why he allows wickedness prosper but at least we know that he has a purpose. God alone knows why we should suffer so if it is his will that we should suffer, let us continue to look up to him and never give up on goodness and holiness. Let our suffering not lead us to the blindness of wickedness. People tend to inflict pain on others based on what they themselves have suffered but this is just blindness. Do unto others what you like to be done to you.

Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, give me courage to continue trusting you even when I see the wicked succeed. May I never become an agent of wickedness. Amen.


God bless you. Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.

No comments:

Post a Comment